Former New York State Senator Carl Kruger arrives to Manhattan Federal Court to plead guilty to corruption charges in a wide-ranging influence peddling case. His guilty plea to a felony means he automatically forfeits his Senate seat. (Bryan Smith/Bryan Smith for News)

Ex-Sen. Carl Kruger wiped away tears as he became the latest Albany politician to 'fess up to regularly selling his office to line his pockets.

The veteran state Senator choked with emotion as he pleaded guilty to four counts of taking bribes to manipulate Albany's wheels of power — and to fund a lavish life-style that included a Bentley and a garish mansion in Mill Basin the he shared with his male "intimate associate."

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"I accept responsibility for my actions and am truly sorry for my conduct," Kruger told a judge in Manhattan Federal Court, pausing twice to remove his glasses and wipe his eyes with a crumpled white tissue.

"I apologize if I'm a little emotional over this."

Kruger faces up to 11 years and four months in the slammer when he's sentenced in April.

Just minutes before Kruger walked into court, he resigned the Senate seat he has held since 1994.

Kruger's co-defendant Michael Turano, who the feds say is the shamed senator's "intimate associate," wept while pleading to a single charge. He faces up to five years in federal prison.

Kruger's fall was quick and sordid.

When he was indicted in March, Kruger insisted he would be cleared of all charges.

But in the last few months, he and his lawyers have participated in intense negotiations to resolve the indictment in hopes of minimizing prison time.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara alleged Kruger funneled up to $1 million through real estate firms controlled by Turano, a gynecologist who shared the Mill Basin manse with his mother, brother — and Kruger.

Their ostentatious abode was once owned by Luchese wiseguy Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso.

Prosecutors said Kruger used his prominent position in Albany to benefit the clients of lobbyist Richard Lipsky, another co-defendant who continues to fight the charges.

In one case, Kruger wrote a letter to a judge and urged enforcement of cigarette taxes. One of Lipsky's clients was a supermarket retailer whose profits were reduced by the sale of tax-free cigarettes on Indian reservations.

Prosecutors also said he took bribes from executives of the former Parkway Hospital to lobby a state Health Department official to win approval for the facility to buy Caritas Hospital.

David Rosen, a hospital executive involved in the scheme, was convicted earlier this year.

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Kruger is the latest in a string of Albany politicians to tarnish New York's reputation with corruption charges, joining ex-Assemblyman Brian McLaughlin and the late Assemblyman Anthony Seminerio, both of Queens. They pleaded guilty to multiple fraud schemes.

Assemblyman William Boyland (D-Brooklyn) was acquitted of a bribery scheme that stemmed from the investigation that netted Kruger. But Boyland now faces new shakedown allegations.